Woodland council will consider environmental report for water project

The City of Woodland intends to adopt a mitigated negative declaration for upcoming Water Pollution Control Facility improvements scheduled this year.

By filing a mitigated negative declaration, the city is basically stating that there is no substantial evidence that the projects - as revised - would have significant effects on the environment.

Public comments will be received through Feb. 4. A copy of the declaration and initial study are available for public review at the city's Community Development Department, 300 First St., or online at cityofwoodland.org.

There are two utility projects slated for 2014. The first is the Water Pollution Control Facility improvements project, which consists of several related improvements at the facility that will result in a more efficient wastewater treatment process. The second consists of various repair and replacement of existing water and wastewater pipelines throughout the city.

"These improvements are expected to reduce secondary power usage by 30 percent, saving approximately $160,000 per year and reducing indirect air emissions, including greenhouse gas related to energy usage," according to the study prepared by Dudek, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. "Additional benefits include improved sludge settleability and process stability. As a result, the downstream filters and UV disinfection should also see reduced operating costs."

The process would also remove additional nitrogen from the water, which improves the quality of the effluent.

The Water Pollution Control Facility is a 10.4 million-gallon per day wastewater treatment plant serving the city's residential, commercial and industrial users. The facility uses a tertiary (advanced) treatment system, with the treated effluent discharged into the Tule Canal within the Yolo Bypass.

According to Dudek, the facility is designated as a class V facility - the highest treatment rating in California standards.

"Additional improvements would be made at the settling ponds. Two of the twelve existing settling ponds (the two central ponds on the east side) would receive a soil cement treatment," cites the study. "This process (of adding lime and Portland cement to the existing soil) improves sludge removal."

The ponds are approximately 4,800 square feet each. About 2,700 linear feet of new pipe would be constructed between the existing ponds and eight new manholes would be installed.

The city further proposes to repair and replace various pipelines for both the municipal water system and the wastewater collection system this year.

The municipal water system consists of 19 interconnected wells, 235 miles of water main lines, and more than 14,200 service connections. The wastewater collection consists 176 miles of sewer main, five miles of pressurized mains, more than 14,800 service connections, 2,487 sewer maintenance holes and two sewer lift pump stations.

All work would be within existing city right of way streets, alleys and public utilities easements.

For additional details and information about the project, contact Mark Cocke at 661-5898 or mark.cocke@cityofwoodland.org. Follow Elizabeth Kalfsbeek at twitter.com/woodlandbeat